Game token management system

ABSTRACT

According to the present invention, there is provided a management system that prevents misuse of many game tokens during the operation of casino using card game tables in casino and other card game facilities using card game tables. The management system has a function that previously registers IDs of contemplated game tokens on database, manages IDs of game tokens present on a game table chip tray and a storage together with information on location on database, specifies the game token in the game table chip tray and the storage at predetermined timing, and generates an error signal when the following statuses is noticed: 1) a fact that ID absent on database is newly present and 2) a fact that two or more identical IDs are present.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a game token management system thatprevents the use of forgeries of token in game places in game facilitiesused in casino or other game token.

BACKGROUND ART

Baccarat and blackjack may be mentioned among many live table games incasino and game facilities. In these games, a standard deck formed of 52playing cards is used, and playing cards are distributed from a shooterprovided with a plurality of previously shuffled decks (6 to 9 or 10decks) onto a game table for start of the game. In casino or gamefacilities, game tokens are used in games.

False game tokens should not be used in casino. In order to prevent theuse of false game tokens in casino, a technique in which RFID isprovided on the game token is adopted in casino. Game tokens attachedwith RFID are publicly known and are disclosed in Patent Literature 1(International Application Publication WO 2008/120749).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: International Application Publication WO2008/120749

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention provides a management system or a game token thatcan prevent the use of false game tokens used in casino or gamefacilities and that can prevent the use of false game tokens and unfairexchange in casino or game facilities. In recent years, manufacturingtechniques of false game tokens are progressed to such an extent thattruth-or-falsity determination marks and RFIDs can be copied fullyaccurately. As a result, truth-or-falsity determination marks and RFIDsthat are the same as authentic truth-or-falsity determination marks andRFIDs are provided on false game tokens, making it impossible todistinguish false game tokens from true game tokens and making itsubstantially impossible to perform truth-or-falsity determination.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the problem of the prior art, according to the presentinvention, there is provided a game token management system including:game tokens attached with unique ID that is individually identifiable;an ID reading device that reads the unique ID attached to the gametoken; a storage that holds the game token in a casher in a game place;a game table chip tray that holds the game token in a game table; a chipdetermination device that specifies a type and number of game tokensheld in the game table chip tray and the storage, with the ID readingdevice; and a management control device that, in the game place, managesthe IDs attached to the game tokens on the database, wherein themanagement control device has a function that previously registers, onthe database, the IDs of the game tokens that are contemplated to beused, manages, using the database, at least the IDs of the game tokenspresent on the game table chip tray and the storage, together withinformation about location, on the database, specifies the game token inthe game table chip tray and the storage at predetermined timing andfurther retrieves the database and determines the following events bythe retrieval of the database: 1) ID absent on the database is newlypresent and 2) two or more identical IDs are present, and generates anerror signal when status 1) or 2) is noticed.

Furthermore, the management control device further includes a functionthat when there is a change in presence of the game token in at leastthe game table chip tray and the storage, records a time or a place atwhich the change has occurred, on the database in association with theID, retrieves the database, and, when two or more identical IDs arepresent, extracts and stores the ID and the time or the place recordedin association with the ID on the database from the database, andspecifies the time at which the detected game token attached with the IDgoes in or goes out the game table chip tray or the storage, or theplace of the game table chip tray or the storage in which the game tokenhas been held.

Further, the game token management system may include a bet area chipdetermination device that specifies the type and numbers of the gametokens bet on a bet area of the game table by the ID reading device, anda function is provided that determines following events by the retrievalof the database also for the ID of the game token present on the betarea of the game table: 1) a fact that ID absent on the database isnewly present and 2) a fact that two or more identical IDs are present,and generates an error signal when status 1) or 2) is noticed.

The unique ID is provided at least three places of a side face of thegame token. The unique ID has been inkjet-printed with an ink that isviewable in visible light. In particular, a construction in which theunique ID has been provided by a presence or absence of marks in aplurality of lines and a plurality of rows is advantageous. Further, atransparent coating layer or varnish is provided on upper and lowersurfaces of the game token.

In order to solve the above problem of the prior art, according to thepresent invention, there is provided a game token having a constructionhaving a multilayer structure including a plurality of laminated plasticlayers having respective different colors, at least one layer being acolored layer, a white layer or a light-color layer being laminated onan outer side of the colored layer, the multilayer structure having astriped pattern on a side face thereof in a laminated direction, thetype of the game token being identifiable by the colored layer. Further,the game token has a construction including a unique ID that is providedat at least three places of a white layer on a side face or a side faceof a light-color layer, is readable by a ID reading device to identifythe type of and information about manufacture of a game token, and canbe managed on database. The unique ID may be inkjet-printed with an inkviewable in visible light. The unique ID may be inkjet-printed with anink unviewable in visible light.

In order to solve the above problem of the prior art, according to thepresent invention, there is provided a game token including IDs that areeach identifiable, wherein the unique ID provided on the game token isread with an ID reading device, the ID reading device can read the gametoken held in a storage held by a casher in a game place and a gametable chip tray in the game table, and, further, the type and number ofthe game tokens held in the game table chip tray and the storage arespecified by a chip determination device through the ID reading device,the ID of the game token present on the game table chip tray and thestorage is managed together with information about location on database,at least 1) a fact that ID absent on the database is newly present and2) a fact that two or more identical IDs are present, are examined, andan occurrence of status 1) or 2) can be determined by the ID.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the whole management system of a gametoken in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the game token in the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3(a) is a plan view of a principal part of a chip tray thatillustrates such a state that game tokens that are one of embodiments ofthe present invention are held on a chip tray in a casino table, andFIG. 3(b) is a perspective view of the game token stacked on top ofanother.

FIG. 4 is an explanation view of IDs (illustrated in codes in aplurality of rows) attached to game tokens in the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of ID attached to a game token in anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A management system of a game token in a game place having a game tablein an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is aschematic view of the whole management system. A management system of agame token in a game place having a plurality of game tables 1 (only onetable in FIG. 1) takes images through a plurality of cameras 4, andstores and manages proceeding of a game in a game table 1, including agame participant 2 and a dealer 3. In particular, the management systemof this game token specifies the type and number of game tokens 5 usedin the game in the game table 1 by analyzing image information obtainedby the camera 4. The game token 5 is attached with a unique ID 6, andthe type and number of the game tokens 5 is obtained by determining andreading the ID 6. An ID reading device 8 provided within a managementcontrol device 7 connected to the camera 4 analyzes image informationobtained from the camera 4 and specifies the ID 6. In particular, themanagement control device 7 includes in its interior a chipdetermination device 9 that analyzes image data taken through the camera4 and, from the results of reading of the ID 6, specifies the type andnumber of the game tokens 5 that are provided side by side or in astacked state.

In a casher 10 of a game place, a game token 5 is replaced with cash 11paid by a game participant 2, and in the casher 10, the game token 5 isstored in a storage 12 that stores the game token 5. Further, in thecasher 10 in the game place, the game token 5 brought by the gameparticipant 2 is refunded in cash 11. In a game table 1, the game token5 is held by a game table chip tray 13. Game tokens 5 bet by a gameparticipant 2 who has lost in each game are collected from the table 1by the dealer 3 and are returned to the game table chip tray 13.Thereafter, game tokens 5 are redeemed to the game participant 2 who haswon the game. Interaction between the game participant 2 and the casher10 or the dealer 3 in the game place is wholly photographed and recordedby a camera 4. In the storage 12 and the game table chip tray 13, everytime when there is an interaction between the game participant 2 and thegame token 5, the number of game tokens 5 stored in the storage 12 andthe game table chip tray 13 is increased or decreased. The type andnumber of game tokens 5 held in the game table chip tray 13 and thestorage 12 are monitored by the ID reading device 8 and the chipdetermination device 9 through the camera 4 at predetermined timing oron a steady basis. The management control device 7 previously holds, ondatabase 14, IDs 6 of all the game tokens 5 that are contemplated to beused in the game place (in the game place, IDs 6 of all the game tokens5 that are contemplated to be used are previously registered).

Thus, the management control device 7 that manages IDs 6 attached to thegame token 5 on the database manages, using the database 14 in the gameplace, at least all the IDs 6 of game tokens 5 present on the game tablechip tray 13 and the storage 12 together with information about location(for example, in the storage 12 or the game table chip tray 13, or intransit from a backyard (not shown), or held by the game participant 2on the database 14. The management control device 7 specifies all thegame tokens 5 in the game table chip tray 13 and the storage 12 atpredetermined timing or on a steady basis by IDs 6, and furtherretrieves the database 14 to determine the following events by theretrieval of the database 14.

The following determination is made: 1) a fact that IDs 6 that have beenabsent (or are absent) in the database 14 are newly present; 2) a factthat two or more identical IDs are present. When the status 1) or 2) isnoticed, an error signal that indicates abnormality is generated, and amanagement section or a security section 15 in the game place isinformed of the error signal. The management control device 7 has theabove function.

Since the management control device 7 specifies all the game tokens 5 inthe game table chip tray 13 and the storage 12 at predetermined timingor on a steady basis by IDs 6 and stores the game token 5 on thedatabase 14, 1) a fact that IDs 6 that have been absent (or are absent)in the database 14 are newly present can be determined. Further, 2) afact that two or more identical I IDs 6 are present can also bedetermined.

The management control device 7 further has a function that when thereis a change in presence of the game token 5 in at least the game tablechip tray 13 and the storage 12, records, on the database 14, a time ora place (the storage 12, the game table chip tray 13, and the like) atwhich the change has occurred, in association with the ID 6, retrievesthe database 14, and, when two or more identical IDs 6 are present, andextracts and stores the ID 6 and the time or the place recorded inassociation with the ID 6 on the database 14 from the database 14, andspecifies, by the database 14, the time at which the detected game token5 (already used or converted) attached with the ID 6 goes in or goes outthe game table chip tray 13 or the storage 13, or the place of the gametable chip tray 13 or the storage 13 in which the game token 5 has beenheld. When the time and the place are specified, for example, a personwith suspected misuse of the game token 5 can be specified from therecord image of the camera 4.

In the game token management system, the management control device 7 canspecify the type and number of game tokens 5 bet on a bet area 16 in thegame table 1 by an ID reading device 8. The game token 5 in the bet area16 is photographed by a camera 4 b that particularly takes photographsof the bet area 16, and also for IDs 6 of the game tokens 5 present onthe bet area 16 in the game table 1, the following events are determinedby the retrieval of the database 14: 1) a fact that ID 6 that has beenabsent on the database 14 is newly present on the bet area 16; 2) a factthat two or more identical IDs are present. When the status 1) or 2) isnoticed, an error signal is generated. The management control device 7has the above function.

In this system, the management control device 7, the ID reading device 8provided in the interior of the system, and the chip determinationdevice 9 that specifies the type and number of game tokens 5 have astructure that compositely includes a computer and a program and amemory integrally or as a plurality of constructions.

Next, the game token 5 (the so-called “chip”) used in this system willbe described in more detail. FIG. 2 is a front view of a game token 5(chip) used in the system of the present invention, the game token 5 isformed by laminating a plurality of plastic layers having respectivedifferent colors, integrating the laminate, for example, bythermocompression bonding, and punching the laminate into a circular orquadrilateral shape. The game token 5 has a multilayer structure thatincludes a colored layer 101 at least as an intermediate layer and thatincludes a white layer 102 or a light-color layer (that is not shown andmay be a layer having a lighter color than the colored layer 101)provided between both sides (upper and lower surfaces in FIG. 2) of thecolored layer 101 that the intermediate layer. When the multilayerstructure including the colored layer 101 and the white layer 102 or thelight-color layer (that is not shown and is a layer having a lightercolor than the colored layer 101) laminated on both sides of the coloredlayer 101 that is the intermediate layer is adopted, as illustrated inFIG. 3, as viewed from the side surface, a striped pattern (in alaminated direction) is formed and the type of game tokens 5 (forexample, 10 points, 20 points, 100 points, and 1000 points) can bespecified by varying the color of the colored layer 101 (for example,red, green, yellow, or blue).

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2, in the game token 5, ID 6 indicatingthe type of the game token 5 is provided on a side face of the whitelayer 102. A transparent layer 104 is provided on the outermost layer,and the layers are thermocompression-bonded to a structure including atleast five layers. These game tokens 5 are formed by using an elongatedplastic material, subjecting layers in the elongated state (for example,at least the colored layer 101 and the white layer 102) tothermocompression bonding to form a bonded state (for example, afive-layer structure) and then punching the laminate, for example, by apress into, for example, a circular or rectangular shape. When punchingis carried out by pressing, the dimension of a molding die and a punchfor punching is designed, and the end of the transparent layer 104 thatis the outermost layer is formed in R-shape (round corner). Thetransparent layer 104 may be a coating layer of varnish. The unique ID 6is provided at at least three places of a side face of the game token 5.The unique ID 6 has been inkjet-printed with an ink viewable in visiblelight.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the unique ID 6 is constructedand provided by the absence or presence of mark C provided in aplurality of lines and a plurality of rows. In the marks C in theplurality of lines and the plurality of rows, as illustrated in FIG. 2,upper and lower marks C are paired to construct a code, and, in FIG. 2,a ten-digit code is provided. Pairing of upper and lower marks C toconstitute codes (four types) is illustrated in FIG. 4. A character Ylocated next to the mark C is an identification mark for theidentification of upper and lower sides of the mark. The code formed ofthe mark C is constructed so as to specify a predetermined combinationof marks C. As a result, in an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, whenfour types are possible as a combination of marks C in upper and lowertwo rows, and, when this is printed in 10 rows, codes of the tenth powerof the four types can be constructed. In ten-digit codes, since fourtypes are possible, codes of the types of the tenth power of four areobtained. Thus, satisfactory unique IDs 6 of game tokens 5 can beprovided.

The game token 5 in the present embodiment has a construction having amultilayer structure including a plurality of laminated plastic layershaving different colors, at least one layer being a colored layer 101, awhite layer 102 or a light-color layer being laminated on an outer sideof the colored layer 101, the multilayer structure having a stripedpattern on a side face thereof in a laminated direction, the type of thegame token 5 being identifiable by the colored layer 101. The unique ID6 is provided at at least three places (desirably six places) on a sideface of the white layer 102 or the light-color layer. In the presentembodiment, six IDs are provided while providing a predetermined spacingat 60 degrees in a rotating direction. In the game token 5, unique IDs 6that are individually identifiable (different from each other one byone) are provided while providing a predetermined spacing at 60 degreesin a rotating direction so that IDs 6 can be necessarily viewed from theside. The unique ID 6 provided on the game token 5 is read by the IDreading device 8. For example, the type and information aboutmanufacture of the game token 5 can be specified by reading the ID 6with the ID reading device 8, and the ID 6 can be managed on thedatabase 14. In the present embodiment, the unique ID has beeninkjet-printed with an ink viewable in visible light. The unique IDs 6may be attached by inkjet printing with inks (UV ink, carbon black inkor infrared reaction ink) which are not visible with visible light.

The unique IDs 6 attached to the game token 5 are read by the ID readingdevice 8, the ID reading device 8 can read game tokens 5 held in thestorage 12 held by the casher in the game place and the game table chiptray 13 in the game table, and, in fact, even when game tokens 5 arestacked horizontally (laterally) as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 3, theIDs 6 can be read.

Further, in the game token 5, a mark M formed of UV ink or carbon blackink is provided on a surface (X) of the white layer 102. This mark M isprovided for the indication of truth or falsity of the game token 5.When the mark M is exposed to ultraviolet light (or infrared light), themark M can be viewed with the naked eye. An authentic game token can bedetermined by combining the shape and number of marks. A transparentlayer 104 is thermocompression-bonded or coated as an outermost layer soas to cover a print 103 (for example, 100 points) or mark M for gameplace specifying purposes on the surface of the game token. Thetransparent layer 104 is subjected to embossing or varnish processing toprevent mutual intimate contact of the game token 5 or to improveslipperiness.

The end of the transparent layer 104 that is the outermost layer onwhich the print 103 (for example, 100 points) is formed in R-shape (R)to prevent appearance of the white layer 102 on the side surface due todeformation of the surface of the white layer 102 in the step ofpunching of a game token 100. Further, this prevents a sharp end of thegame token 100 from damaging hands or other chips T. The colored layer101 may be formed of one colored layer or a plurality of colored layers.In order to increase the weight, metal or ceramics may be incorporatedwithin the layer constituting the colored layer 101. Further, a part ofthe colored layer 101 may be bored, or alternatively a space may beprovided between the colored layer 101 and the white layer 102, followedby incorporation of RFID in the space. In this case, a combination ofIDs by the mark C-derived codes and RFID is adopted as the ID 6 of thegame token 5.

In the game token 5 thus constructed, the type and number of game tokens5 held in the game table chip tray 13 and the storage 12 are specifiedby the chip determination device 9 through the camera 4 and the IDreading device 8, and IDs 6 of game tokens 5 present on the game tablechip tray 13 and the storage 12, together with information aboutlocation, are managed on the database 14. This makes it possible toexamine at least the following events: 1) a fact that ID 6 that has beenabsent on the database 14 is newly present; and 2) a fact that two ormore identical IDs are present. The occurrence of the status 1) or 2)can be realized by the retrieval and determination of all the IDs 6.

The management control device 7 may be a control device having anartificial intelligent-type or deep-learning-type structure. Themanagement control device 7 can grasp a position 24 (a position wherethe token is bet to a player, a banker, or a pair), the type (differentvalues are allocated for each color in the game token), and the numberof game tokens 5, using, for example, artificial intelligence-typecomputers or control systems, deep-learning (structure) techniques, andself-learning functions.

Variants of the game token 5 will be described. In a variant, aseven-digit figure is printed as ID 6 on a side face of the game token5. In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, a white layer 102 is providedin the center, and a colored layer 101 is provided on upper and lowersurfaces of the white layer 102. A figure is printed as a mark in thewhite layer 102 that is the center to constitute ID 6. A combination of10 figures is possible, and, when the combination of figures is printedby digit printing, codes of the seventh power of the 10 figures can beconstructed, making it possible to impart satisfactory unique IDs 6 ofthe game token 5. In the camera 4 and image analyses, reading ofdetermination and reading of figures is sometimes difficult, and acombination of marks C in embodiments described above is advantageous interms of image analysis.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   5 game token    -   6 ID    -   7 management control device    -   8 ID reading device    -   9 chip determination device    -   12 storage    -   13 chip tray    -   14 database    -   M mark

1. A game token management system comprising: game tokens attached withunique ID that is individually identifiable; an ID reading device thatreads the unique ID attached to the game token; a storage that holds thegame token in a casher in a game place; a game table chip tray thatholds the game token in a game table; a chip determination device thatspecifies a type and number of game tokens held in the game table chiptray and the storage, with the ID reading device; and a managementcontrol device that, in the game place, manages the IDs attached to thegame tokens on the database, wherein: the management control device hasa function that previously registers, on the database, the IDs of thegame tokens that are contemplated to be used, manages, using thedatabase, at least the IDs of the game tokens present on the game tablechip tray and the storage, together with information about location, onthe database, specifies the game token in the game table chip tray andthe storage at predetermined timing and further retrieves the databaseand determines following events by the retrieval of the database: 1) afact that ID absent on the database is newly present; and 2) a fact thattwo or more identical IDs are present, and generates an error signalwhen status 1) or 2) is noticed.
 2. The game token management systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the management control device further hasa function that, when there is a change in presence of the game token inat least the game table chip tray and the storage, records a time or aplace at which the change has occurred on the database in associationwith the ID, retrieves the database, and when two or more identical IDsare present, extracts and stores the ID and the time or the placerecorded on the database in association with the ID from the database,and specifies the time at which the detected game token attached withthe ID goes in or goes out the game table chip tray or the storage, orthe place of the game table chip tray or the storage in which the gametoken has been held.
 3. The game token management system according toclaim 1, further comprising: a bet area chip determination device thatspecifies the type and numbers of the game tokens bet on a bet area ofthe game table by the ID reading device, and a function is provided thatdetermines following events by the retrieval of the database also forthe ID of the game token present on the bet area of the game table: 1) afact that ID absent on the database is newly present, and 2) a fact thattwo or more identical IDs are present, and generates an error signalwhen status 1) or 2) is noticed.
 4. The game token management systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the unique ID is provided at at leastthree places of side faces of the game token.
 5. The game tokenmanagement system according to claim 1, wherein the unique ID isinkjet-printed with an ink viewable in visible light.
 6. The game tokenmanagement system according to claim 1, wherein the unique ID isinkjet-printed with an ink unviewable in visible light.
 7. The gametoken management system according to claim 1, wherein the unique ID isprovided by a presence or absence of marks in a plurality of lines and aplurality of rows.
 8. The game token management system according toclaim 1, wherein a transparent coating layer or varnish is provided on aside face of the game token.
 9. The game token management systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the unique ID is RFID.
 10. The game tokenmanagement system according to claim 1, wherein the game token has astructure having a unique ID provided by ink jet printing on the sideface and having a built-in RFID, and the management control device has afunction that manages, on the database, information about ID attached onthe side face and information about ID of RFID that have been associatedwith each other.
 11. The game token management system according to claim1, wherein the game token has a construction having a multilayerstructure comprising a plurality of laminated plastic layers havingdifferent colors, at least one layer being a colored layer, a whitelayer or a light-color layer being laminated on an outer side of thecolored layer, the multilayer structure having a striped pattern on aside face thereof in a laminated direction, the type of the game tokenbeing identifiable by the colored layer.
 12. A game token having aconstruction comprising a unique ID that is provided at least threeplaces of a white layer on a side face or a side face of a light-colorlayer, is readable by a ID reading device to identify the type of andinformation about manufacture of a game token, and can be managed ondatabase.
 13. The game token according to claim 12, wherein the uniqueID is inkjet-printed with an ink viewable in visible light.
 14. The gametoken according to claim 12, wherein the unique ID is inkjet-printedwith an ink unviewable in visible light.
 15. The game token according toclaim 12, wherein the unique ID is provided by a presence or absence ofmarks in a plurality of lines and a plurality of rows.
 16. The gametoken according to claim 12, wherein a transparent coating layer orvarnish is provided on a side face of the game token.
 17. A game tokencomprising: unique IDs that are each identifiable, wherein: the uniqueID provided on the game token is readable with an ID reading device, theID reading device can read the game token held in a storage of a casherin a game place and a game table chip tray in the game table, and,further, a type and number of the game tokens held in the game tablechip tray and the storage are specified by a chip determination devicethrough the ID reading device, the ID of the game token present on thegame table chip tray and the storage is managed together withinformation about location on database, at least: 1) a fact that IDabsent on the database is newly present, and 2) a fact that two or moreidentical IDs are present, are examined, and an occurrence of status 1)or 2) can be determined by the ID.